Akaka hopes bill will pass 'in Dan's honor'

The retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka took to the Senate floor Thursday and urged his colleagues to approve a Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill in honor of U.S. Sen. Daniel Ino­uye.

The bill, known as the Akaka Bill, has passed the House three times but has stalled in the Senate since 2000 because of opposition from conservative Republicans who consider it race-based discrimination. The bill would recognize Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people with the right to self-determination, similar to Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Akaka made the request as Ino­uye's body lay in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

"Today, in Dan's honor, and for all the people of Hawaii, I am asking the Senate to pass the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act," Akaka, D-Hawaii, said in a prepared statement. "Dan and I developed our bill to create a process that could address the many issues that continue to persist as a result of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893.

"As you know, Dan Ino­uye was a champion for Hawaii and worked every day of his honorable life to solve problems and help our island state.

"Dan also served on the Indian Affairs Committee for over 30 years and chaired it twice. He was an unwavering advocate for the United States' government-to-government relationships with Native Nations. He constantly reminded our colleagues in the Senate about our Nation's trust responsibilities — and our treaty obligations — to America's first peoples.

"Dan believed that through self-determination and self-governance, these communities could thrive and contribute to the greatness of the United States."

U.S. Sen. Lisa Mur­kow­ski, R-Alaska, one of the few Republican supporters of Native Hawaiian recognition, echoed Akaka's appeal for the bill to be passed.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the TERMS OF SERVICE. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. Because only subscribers are allowed to comment, we have your personal information and are able to contact you. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. To report comments that you believe do not follow our guidelines, email commentfeedback@staradvertiser.com.

Leave a comment

Name:

Comment:

Please login to leave a comment.

MalamaKaAinawrote:

"God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the earth," in unity and blessedness. ~Kingdom of Hawai`i Constitution of 1840

on December 21,2012 | 12:47AM

Name:

Comment:

MalamaKaAinawrote:

Hey AKAKA the KAKA Bill does not represent me!

on December 21,2012 | 12:18PM

Name:

Comment:

alliewrote:

most hawaiians don't even want it. Check behind the curtain to see who really is pushing the racial division agenda and look who will benefit

on December 22,2012 | 08:34AM

Name:

Comment:

Mythmanwrote:

As prev noted, Inouye's final statement on equal protection for native Hawaiians of the blood and their descendants was to add them to the annual list of federally acknowledged tribes published by the Interior Department, not to pass the bill. This is incorrect and SA ought to fulfill its obligation to the public by noting this? The bill and Inouye's approach are two different things. The bill only protects the OHA and its ali'i trust companions from the exposure of Rice to racial preference legal attacks. Inouye had it right.

on December 21,2012 | 03:59AM

Name:

Comment:

Ken_Conklinwrote:

An 8 minute 8 second CSPAN video clip is included in the Star-Advertiser online article. A slightly different video clip of 8 minutes 42 seconds is on the CSPAN website, which includes a bit of verbal and procedural stumbling by Senator Akaka. Apparently the Star-Advertiser editors decided to save Senator Akaka some embarrassment by censoring some of his stumbling.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310045-17

on December 21,2012 | 06:14AM

Name:

Comment:

alliewrote:

He has been an embarrassment to the state for a long time. Nice man? maybe but what he says is not nice at all.

on December 21,2012 | 02:40PM

Name:

Comment:

Maneki_Nekowrote:

Akaka's long hold on his Senate seat kept qualified younger people from gaining the seniority that would have helped Hawaii in years to come. So excuse me if I don't get on the band wagon to try and help out this most ineffective of representatives. Peddling your failed legislation on the passing of a giant is distasteful.

on December 21,2012 | 07:12AM

Name:

Comment:

alliewrote:

True...he did a lot of damage. His absurd posturing on this bad bill discredited Hawaii in Congress and led to needless division here at home.

on December 21,2012 | 02:39PM

Name:

Comment:

8082062424wrote:

the division you speak off has been going on for years and years.Way before you and i Was born. And it gotten worst over the years way before Akaka came up with this bill thing were getting worst and worst

on December 21,2012 | 04:20PM

Name:

Comment:

ready2gowrote:

"Distasteful" is putting it mildly!

on December 21,2012 | 08:18AM

Name:

Comment:

Maneki_Nekowrote:

That's me....Born to be Mild.

on December 21,2012 | 01:43PM

Name:

Comment:

MakaniKaiwrote:

@Maneki_Neko wrote: “Peddling your failed legislation on the passing of a giant is distasteful.” AGREE! Aloha.

on December 21,2012 | 09:53AM

Name:

Comment:

GorillaSmithwrote:

It looks like Delusional Dan Akaka remains in that persistent vegetative state. I've never met a person with an IQ above room temperature who thinks his absurd bill will ever pass.

on December 21,2012 | 09:56AM

Name:

Comment:

mccwrote:

Retire gracefully, Dan. That is a dead bill.

on December 21,2012 | 10:24AM

Name:

Comment:

hikinewrote:

Using Senator Inouye to pass his bill is shibai. How could Akaka disgrace Inouye's name for the sake of his bill! No shame Akaka!

on December 21,2012 | 12:10PM

Name:

Comment:

alliewrote:

true but the power boyz who push Akaka's strings told him to do it. Sad that he had to introduce a bad bill into official mourning. Why would an out-going Congress that cannot avoid a fiscal cliff rush this bad and very dishonest bill through?

on December 21,2012 | 02:38PM

Name:

Comment:

8082062424wrote:

Are you so sure that Senator Inouye family dose not support what Akaka did? they were very close friends. And im sure he talked to the family before he made the request

on December 21,2012 | 04:23PM

Name:

Comment:

8082062424wrote:

I feel it in poor taste also.But i wonder if Inouye family supports it. i pretty sure it was before the family. they both were very close friends

on December 21,2012 | 04:16PM

Name:

Comment:

hikinewrote:

"Had our executives been there, they would have been able to tear Mr. Ackman's premises and interpretation of our business model apart. His misstatements and mistakes are too numerous to address immediately."
The question is.. why weren't there any executives to represent the company in the first place?